Confirmed with Link: Alexis Lafreniere Signs Extension [7Y/7.45M AAV]

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Trochek is a better player this year than Mika.

By far, but Zibanejad does have a better shot than Trocheck and from the bumper slot he’d be more inclined to just shoot it (hopefully)

 

[NickyFotiu]

My kingdom for a PP that looks like this

Kreider
Panarin - Zibanejad - Laffy
Fox

Vince is our second leading PP goal scorer. Only 1 behind CK. Even if he wasn't the odds of Lavi taking our best faceoff guy off the PP is unlikely unless he started slumping hard. Also helps to keep Bread with his own center line wise.

 

[ThirdEye]

13pts and +8 in his last 15GP. He's been a much better two-way player since the AS break.

He more than deserves PP1 time, but unfortunately it looks like that first unit is all but set in stone despite only being average over the last 20 or so games.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Vince is our second leading PP goal scorer. Only 1 behind CK. Even if he wasn't the odds of Lavi taking our best faceoff guy off the PP is unlikely unless he started slumping hard. Also helps to keep Bread with his own center line wise.

Trocheck plays the bumper well. He has the wheels to leave his spot and roam around supporting pucks when needed. Obviously also a monster on draws which they scored off last night. Zib is killing the unit right now.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

By far, but Zibanejad does have a better shot than Trocheck and from the bumper slot he’d be more inclined to just shoot it (hopefully)

Zib has been successful in the bumper in the past and I wouldn’t be completely opposed. I think Trochecks transition/breakout ability and puck support in the zone are way better though. Faceoffs as well. Zib really should come off for Laf, he’s been awful

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

That shot last night was a laser beam. We are seeing his shooting improve in real time.

 

[TomBlizzy12]

That shot last night was a laser beam. We are seeing his shooting improve in real time.

My god that was a Chris Kyle-level snipe.

 

[IDvsEGO]

That shot last night was a laser beam. We are seeing his shooting improve in real time.

Now that he's able to generate space because teams are backing up on him, he'll get it off more often.

 

[TomBlizzy12]

Now that he's able to generate space because teams are backing up on him, he'll get it off more often.

Lafreniere when he enters the O zone:

 

[Bob Richards]

Laf’s play this year is so far and away the highlight of the season for me.

Easily my favorite part as well.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Easily my favorite part as well.

It's to the point where if he has a bad game I'm absolutely shocked. His line almost never has bad games all three are skilled guys with high motors.

 

[RangerLifer]

My kingdom for a PP that looks like this

Kreider
Panarin - Zibanejad - Laffy
Fox

You still want Zibanejad on any PP?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

You still want Zibanejad on any PP?

No but since he apparently owns the team this is more realistic

 

[Rongomania]

Those posts from the summer look more and more cringe every game.

Stick with de kids

 

[RangerLifer]

No but since he apparently owns the team this is more realistic

We are doomed.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Now that he's able to generate space because teams are backing up on him, he'll get it off more often.

All these guys need is to play with your best players for frequent high value puck touches and then you just leave it alone. This is the only team that takes 4 years to try it

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

That shot last night was a laser beam. We are seeing his shooting improve in real time.

100%.

Release is quicker, less deliberate, and less telegraphed. Goalies don't see the trajectory till it's on its way now, and he's getting a lot better use of the flex in his stick.
Even his missed nets have been impressive the last few weeks.

 

[OthmannOut]

The amount of irrational hatred towards Laf means we won't be able to gloat until he gets PP1 time and goes PPG. The main boards no matter how good he is is stuck on the narrative that he sucks.

In all fairness, not even six months ago the majority of this board wanted to trade him for a fifth round draft pick. It would still be easy to believe if you look at his stat line without knowing the full story. The narrative that he is a bust is going to morph into Laf being underrated. Anyone watching his game this year can tell you that. And we also all see that he is continuing to improve.

 

[Guyute]

In all fairness, not even six months ago the majority of this board wanted to trade him for a fifth round draft pick. It would still be easy to believe if you look at his stat line without knowing the full story. The narrative that he is a bust is going to morph into Laf being underrated. Anyone watching his game this year can tell you that. And we also all see that he is continuing to improve.

Same goes for Kakko. There’s a misperception about him because he gets the dregs of PP time and everyone assumes he sucks because his overall stat line is low. Last year when Kreider was injured and he took over the net-front spot on the PP, he scored several goals right away.

 

[aufheben]

Same goes for Kakko. There’s a misperception about him because he gets the dregs of PP time and everyone assumes he sucks because his overall stat line is low. Last year when Kreider was injured and he took over the net-front spot on the PP, he scored several goals right away.

Kakko’s offensive game is skating into the corner with the puck and turning it over. The stuff he did in Finland doesn’t work in the NHL (at least he can’t make it work).

 

[NYR Viper]

Kakko’s offensive game is skating into the corner with the puck and turning it over. The stuff he did in Finland doesn’t work in the NHL (at least he can’t make it work).

This isn't the thread for this but it's not true.

I'm not sure why other people don't see it but his game is actually pretty simple. He holds the puck and draws defenders to him. It may look like he is just skating to the corner but he is looking to draw people to him so he can dish it off. His game is passing, not shooting. It's why he did well with Lafreniere and Chytil. Those guys can find open areas of the ice when they don't have the puck. Kreider and Zibanejad have no idea how to do this in the offensive zone for some reason.

Oddly enough, Brodzinski, for all of his faults, actually knows how to get himself in a soft spot and ready to shoot right away.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Same goes for Kakko. There’s a misperception about him because he gets the dregs of PP time and everyone assumes he sucks because his overall stat line is low. Last year when Kreider was injured and he took over the net-front spot on the PP, he scored several goals right away.

No he didn’t.
Highlighted the games where Kreider was injured:

 

[bleedblue94]

Kakko’s offensive game is skating into the corner with the puck and turning it over. The stuff he did in Finland doesn’t work in the NHL (at least he can’t make it work).

kakko just doesn't have the skill set for the modern game.

as for laffy, this kid deserves so much credit. he has worked hard and taken steps in his personal game, skating, and work ethic and it has been noticeable.

 

[Levitate]

I dont' think Kakko is the turnover problem on that line. Even if he doesn't find something dangerous to do with the puck he usually at least moves it to the point or makes a pass with some kind of purpose.

Again I'll bitch about Kreider and Zibanejad because their method is to go in soft after the puck, give up immediately if they don't win a stick check, and if they do get the puck then they sling it around the boards as blindly and quickly as possible without knowing where their linemates are. For two guys who are supposed to have "chemistry" most of the time they can't move the puck to each other for shit in the offensive zone and their chemistry is mainly trying to feather a pass to the other on a transition/break

not arguing that Kakko hasn't had a massively disappointing season but even his "good shot with talented players" has been with two guys who don't play well with others and are having massively disappointing years of their own 5v5 with or without Kakko. I think he's got tools that could be worked with but this team has not had the players to help him succeed. Again, that means he's been a disappointment as a #2 overall for sure, but I think he could still be a pretty good and useful player with the right lineup

 

[Harbour Dog]

Ah, we've reached the shit on Kakko part of the TDL experience. Surprised it took this long to get here to be honest.

Let's just get it over with, and trade him away for a one-dimensional forward. No reason to need three reliable lines going into the playoffs anyway.